Happy Thanksgiving

It’s that time of year again.  As a child in Britain, I always looked forward to “Harvest Festival” as we would call Thanksgiving.  Each child would take one food item – either directly from or made with food from the land – to school for later donation to a local charity.  Our school stage was a colourful array of food of the land:  huge loaves of bread shaped like sheaths of wheat, fresh vegetables, and fruits all combining to form a beautiful backdrop to our school service and harvest hymns.  I particularly loved the hymn that started “We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land ….” and just thinking of the tune takes me back to those special services in my primary school and the warm feeling they elicited in me.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is a celebration of harvest.  Most often associated with this celebration is a roast dinner that includes Turkey and a pie that is made of Pumpkin.  Personally, I prefer cake to pie, so I would like to thank you for visiting my site today and to give you a recipe that I have made each Thanksgiving since I first came to Canada in 1982.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup oil, apple sauce or natural yogurt
• 2 cups canned pumpkin (unsweetened, organic)
• 2 cups any flour (I use 100% wholewheat)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• Walnut halves for topping if no icing is added.
• Icing
• Half a cup of butter, softened
• 1 pkg or 8oz of cream- ricotta- or mascarpone cheese)
• Icing sugar to taste
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Combine all cake ingredients and blend thoroughly.  Pour into pan and add walnut halves if you prefer to leave out the icing.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until tests done (insert a skewer in the middle.)  Cool.  Prepare icing by combining ingredients and mixing until smooth.  Spread on cooled cake.  Enjoy!

Memory of a Lifetime

The Story

During my initial consultation with clients in California, and while reviewing details later that day, I noted that one of their daughters would be turning 16 during their private tour of Greece and Turkey.

Remembering the thrill of clients for whom I had organized a surprise birthday party at the top of a mountain in Turkey (complete with almond cake, candles and fairy lights in the garden of their lovely hotel) I organized a surprise for Katherine – not only upon landing from her hot air balloon ride but also when she arrived back at her hotel for breakfast.  That was a day of cakes and surprises and, judging by this note I received by mail, her sixteenth birthday will always hold special memories for her and her family.

This is why I love my work!  There is nothing more rewarding that orchestrating dreams and with my global network of Virtuoso partners, the options are endless.

Please, let me orchestrate your dreams.

As of today’s date, I am thrilled to announce that I am working with Vision2000 Travel Group as an independent Lifestyle travel advisor specializing in private and group travel within Canada, Europe and the Middle East. 

From my new desk, I am looking forward to booking your special trip, and if you need a better understanding of what I can do for you, please see what past and current clients are saying.

Vision 2000 is the largest Canadian-owned and operated travel management company, employing over 400 travel professionals and processing more than $450 million dollars in annual sales. The company operates more than 30 full-service and on-site locations across Canada.

Vision 2000 is a leading member of Virtuoso, the world’s most prestigious travel network, and the Canadian shareholder in RADIUS Global Travel Solutions, one of the world’s largest travel management organizations.

What does this mean to you, my client?  Well, access to the Virtuoso amenities means that you will always have a room upgrade when one is possible,  you will receive welcome - and sometimes daily chef amenities, complimentary lunches, spa treatments and more.  And if you don’t believe it, just check out some of the testimonials from my clients here.  In addition, Vision2000 is a Preferred Partner to Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as well as other luxury brands, which means that you will always receive star treatment, along with additional benefits.

I am thrilled to be joining Vision2000 and look forward to planning your next WOW! Lifestyle vacation.

I haven’t gone AWOL! I’m rather busy with client preparations for 2011 and new enquiries.  Add to that a heavy cold and I hope you’ll understand why I have little energy to write at this moment.

But I will be back soon and hope to see you here!